A Brief History

The Electoral Divisions of Onllwyn and Seven Sisters are two of three scattered within the Dulais Valley, with Crynant being the third. All three are situated along the A4109, Onllwyn to the North of Seven Sisters and Crynant to the South. Crynant was not allocated Communities First Status, its Welsh IMD rank being 230, and for the purpose of this profile shall not be included. Both Onllwyn and Seven Sisters are typical ribbon developments characteristic of the South Wales valley region and an ex-coalfield area. Seven Sisters (Electoral Division) is considered to be one village, all be it divided top to bottom. Onllwyn (Electoral Division), however, is made up of five villages; Camnant; Dyffryn Cellwen; Banwen; Onllwyn and Pant-y-Ffordd. Of these, there are three identifiable communities - Onllwyn, Pant-y-Ffordd and Banwen. Historically, village identity referred to the different coalmines in the area. In today's society this has its own implications that will be discussed later. It is worth highlighting that the predominant village identity is that of Banwen.

Seven Sisters and Onllwyn (Electoral Divisions) exist at the head of the Dulais Valley, 12 miles distant of the town of Neath, in the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot (Pop. 134000). The area is situated near the Brecon Beacons National Park in a rural upland district, which runs along the River Dulais. The river itself runs from the hamlet of Camnant to Aberdulais.

The Upper Dulais Valley exists because of the development of the Coal Industry. Several pits were sunk in the area, around which houses were built and villages grew. The 1950s through the 1970s was a golden age for coal that was mirrored in the existence of Dulais Valley; cinemas, banks, bowling greens, swimming pools and a variety of shops were all commonplace amenities in every village, amenities that flourished. However, the demise of the coal industry, climaxing at the end of the 1984 Miner's Strike, marked the demise of our valley. With over five hundred job losses in under a year, the late 1980s and early 1990s was a particularly dark time for the people of the valley. A lack of employment meant high levels of poverty and a lack of inward investment. With no money in the area, facilities, amenities and services disintegrated, collapsing with it the social infrastructure. We have always benefited from a strong volunteering culture, something that grew out of the mining community. The closure of these mines marked a new era; a time that was economically painful, soul destroying and a huge knock to our volunteer culture.

Experiencing no infill growth, the valley was perceived to be dead. Paradoxically, however, the area has experienced redevelopment of its social facilities and infrastructure, this redevelopment being the product of the surviving volunteer culture. For during the Miners Strike and its consequential years pockets of spirit and hope prevailed; primarily amongst the female community, many seizing the opportunity of an image change, a change that meant women having to seek paid employment. 1985 not only witnessed the demise of the Mining Industry but also the birth of Dove Workshop, or Dulais Opportunity for Voluntary Enterprise. 'Dove Workshop was established by women who were active in the Swansea, Neath and Dulais Miners Support Group during the Miners Strike 1984-85.

Conscious of the need to support communities that were affected by a declining industry the voluntary women's group decided to establish a strategy to offer accessible education and training to women in the community. Their aims and objectives were agreed; to provide facilities and opportunity to teach women new skills, thus enabling them to seek employment; to provide childcare facilities for mothers of young children; to provide transport to enable women to participate in such activities as were available.' (Dove Workshop; A Brief History, Mair Francis, 1995) As Dove Workshop has grown and society has changed, so has their ability to encourage and support both men and women to seek their full potential. At present, Dove Workshop is seen by many as the Community Education provider in Dulais Valley, working with in partnership with Further and Higher education and training providers. In 1996, and as a result of the strong partnerships and networks in existence, Dulais Valley Partnership Ltd was established. A development trust with holistic aims to regenerate our valley, it brought together key partners such as Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Neath College, Swansea University, West Wales TEC, Dove Workshop, British Telecom and Community Development Foundation, along with local residents to give the projects and process a genuine sense of community ownership. With its 'Strategy for Regeneration' (1996), the Dulais Valley Partnership currently nurtures development in the areas of tourism and the environment, arts and culture, youth development and transport.

This picture of voluntary action is by no means comprehensive. Historically, coalmining villages tended to be insular and self-sustaining and the 1984 Miners Strike magnified the reciprocity of our communities. It is important, though, to recognise that the organisations discussed above gave voluntary action a formal guise. Not only have they supported, developed and promoted the work of other community groups but they also gave Dulais Valley a legitimate flag to fly nationally.

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